11 minutes ago, Luvcbus said:

 

Today's Dispatch has a picture of United Way's downtown demolition 

 

 

Probably one of the worst projects in any part of the city 

Condos on 3rd

"Current" is back up in downtown at High and Gay Street. Taken today during a small rain storm. 

^ Very nice. Trees. Public art. Building variety. Checks off a lot of boxes. 

Downtown Building Torn Down to Prep Site for New Development

 

Work to demolish the three-story building at 360 S. Third St. began this morning. The former United Way headquarters was built in 1969 and has been vacant since 2022, when the agency moved its offices to 215 N. Front St.

 

A five-story, 82-unit apartment building is planned for the site, with construction scheduled to start later this year.

 

The $29 million project, from the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), will be called AspireCOLUMBUS and will feature of mix of affordable and market rate apartments. It was originally envisioned as a 12-story, 136-unit building but was scaled down due to a change in the location’s eligibility for 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. The latest plan calls for a 67-space parking lot behind the building.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/downtown-building-torn-down-to-prep-site-for-new-development-bw1/

 

7 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

Downtown Building Torn Down to Prep Site for New Development

 

Work to demolish the three-story building at 360 S. Third St. began this morning. The former United Way headquarters was built in 1969 and has been vacant since 2022, when the agency moved its offices to 215 N. Front St.

 

A five-story, 82-unit apartment building is planned for the site, with construction scheduled to start later this year.

 

The $29 million project, from the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), will be called AspireCOLUMBUS and will feature of mix of affordable and market rate apartments. It was originally envisioned as a 12-story, 136-unit building but was scaled down due to a change in the location’s eligibility for 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. The latest plan calls for a 67-space parking lot behind the building.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/downtown-building-torn-down-to-prep-site-for-new-development-bw1/

 

 

Quick pic of the old United Way HQ building about half way down 

 

 

 

11 hours ago, sono4315 said:

"Current" is back up in downtown at High and Gay Street. Taken today during a small rain storm. 

 

We really need to try to replicate Gay Street in a few more areas of downtown. It's such a pleasant street to walk down. 

24 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

We really need to try to replicate Gay Street in a few more areas of downtown. It's such a pleasant street to walk down. 

I would love the south side of Gay st east of 4th to fill in with either more townhome units or some 3-5 story buildings that fit the historic look of this section. 

16 hours ago, VintageLife said:

Probably one of the worst projects in any part of the city 

Come on, seriously? I don't get why you're so upset this was downsized. CMHA is not a developer, it's a public housing authority. They can't conjure up money to build your fantasy 12 story building.

 

Per the Dispatch article: "It was originally envisioned as a 12-story, 136-unit building but was scaled down due to a change in the location’s eligibility for 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency." 

 

The rules changed after the 12 story was proposed. Nothing CMHA can do about that.

^100% agree. The hate this project is getting is unwarranted.

 

Even with the downsize it's a decent filler project in downtown with a standard aesthetic that is hardly objectionable compared to many other copy and paste projects. 

 

Certainly doesn't deserve the superlative of being the worst. 

 

Edited April 15Apr 15 by DTCL11

25 minutes ago, Pablo said:

Come on, seriously? I don't get why you're so upset this was downsized. CMHA is not a developer, it's a public housing authority. They can't conjure up money to build your fantasy 12 story building.

 

Per the Dispatch article: "It was originally envisioned as a 12-story, 136-unit building but was scaled down due to a change in the location’s eligibility for 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency." 

 

The rules changed after the 12 story was proposed. Nothing CMHA can do about that.

Doesn’t mean it can’t receive hate. I love that it’s bringing affordable housing downtown, but it’s still a bad project. No retail, a giant parking lot facing the street, it’s just not good. I get things changed on them and that sucks. They could have waited on it or brought in another developer, unless that isn’t allowed under the low income housing tax. 
 

25 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

Doesn’t mean it can’t receive hate. I love that it’s bringing affordable housing downtown, but it’s still a bad project. No retail, a giant parking lot facing the street, it’s just not good. I get things changed on them and that sucks. They could have waited on it or brought in another developer, unless that isn’t allowed under the low income housing tax. 
 

 

See, the thing about the way this is being developed is a parking lot, configured the way it is, allows for future development. It's hardly a concern at this point. And not every single building needs retail.  Yeah, this corner might not get a coffee shop some day, but that's not the biggest crime when we have developers in this city tearing down buildings and never fulfilling development promises, or just sitting on property for decades, or parking lot owners who refuse to sell.   Hate and/or calling it the worst or even one of the worst, or bad in general is such a strong feeling toward this when it checks so many good boxes. 

 

Perfect? No. But what is? It's better than it was and doesn't prevent future expansion possibilities while trying to address the needs of now within their confines. 

 

 

Edited April 15Apr 15 by DTCL11

7 minutes ago, DTCL11 said:

Perfect? No. But what is? It's better than it was and doesn't prevent future expansion possibilities while trying to address the needs of now within their confines. 

I can agree with this, and my overall hate is just how much it lacks, but it doesn’t have a lot of positive. I have a hard time ever believing the parking lot will be developed, but yes that would be a huge positive. 

Wanted to add this photo that shows it would be hard to add another building in the parking lot to the south. Impossible, not at all, but it isn’t designed well for it. Unless they do a courtyard in the back and attach a new building at the south facing wall. 
 

 

21 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

Wanted to add this photo that shows it would be hard to add another building in the parking lot to the south. Impossible, not at all, but it isn’t designed well for it. Unless they do a courtyard in the back and attach a new building at the south facing wall. 
 

 

 

They put a 30 story hotel on a much harder plot of land integrated into an existing convention center. There's been conceptual proposals for more on a lot a fraction of that size north of the convention center abutting a majoy highway retention wall. They added 3 stories to a historic structure near CCAD. They just built condos on a postage stamp between and alley and another building. They built an apartment building around an existing one story structure etc etc etc.  A future development on this lot isn't even close to being moderately difficult. 

Edited April 15Apr 15 by DTCL11

Looks like the Continental Center building will be called Continental Tower and could start opening soon. 

8 hours ago, VintageLife said:

Looks like the Continental Center building will be called Continental Tower and could start opening soon. 

It seems like they still have quite a bit of work to do on the ground floor lobby/retail space as well as the outdoor area. Maybe that’s the last part of the project though. Would love to see this wrap up and open within the next couple months. 

New Downtown Safety Program Announced by Downtown Columbus, Inc.

 

Safety protocols in Downtown Columbus are taking a new shape with the launch of the “Safer Downtown” program, which was announced today. The project, spearheaded by Downtown Columbus, Inc. (DCI), will create a new hub for safety communications, collaborating with Columbus Police and other partners.

 

“Downtown is everyone’s neighborhood, and everyone has a role to play in keeping it safe and welcoming,” said Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther. “I’m grateful to DCI for forging collaborative partnerships with the Columbus Division of Police and the private sector to develop an even more coordinated approach to keeping people and property safe.”

 

Prior to the launch of the new program, safety services Downtown were handled by the Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts (SIDs) for the past twenty years. A push to merge the SIDs with DCI over the past year has been a turbulent process. The City of Columbus has pulled financial support from the SIDs, along with a variety of other stakeholders, which could soon spell the end of the organizations if a renewal process is not completed within the next few months.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/new-downtown-safety-program-announced-by-downtown-columbus-inc-we1/ & https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/04/22/safer-downtown-command-center-security-monitoring.html

 

 

Elevate 340 on Fulton continues to cruise along

 

From Grant Ave

 

 

Looks like residential conversion is off the table now. Glad to hear the tower will be getting more investment:

 

Downtown Chase Tower sells to California investor who plans to invest 'millions' into offices
 

“Downtown's Chase Tower has sold to a California investor who plans to spend "millions" improving the building.

 

Los Angeles investor Andrew Brog and a partner bought the 25-story tower at 100 E. Broad St. from the Virginia firm Lingerfelt CommonWealth Partners.

 

Lingerfelt bought the building in 2019 for $9.5 million. Brog did not say what he paid but said it was less than $5 million, a price that allows money to be spent on improvements.

 

About 30% of the building is occupied, said Brog, who said he plans to keep the building offices instead of pursuing Lingerfelt's plan to convert 22 floors of the building into 253 apartments.“

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/real-estate/2025/04/24/chase-tower-downtown-bought-by-los-angeles-investor-andrew-brog/83246869007/

1 hour ago, amped91 said:

Looks like residential conversion is off the table now. Glad to hear the tower will be getting more investment:

 

Downtown Chase Tower sells to California investor who plans to invest 'millions' into offices
 

“Downtown's Chase Tower has sold to a California investor who plans to spend "millions" improving the building.

 

Los Angeles investor Andrew Brog and a partner bought the 25-story tower at 100 E. Broad St. from the Virginia firm Lingerfelt CommonWealth Partners.

 

Lingerfelt bought the building in 2019 for $9.5 million. Brog did not say what he paid but said it was less than $5 million, a price that allows money to be spent on improvements.

 

About 30% of the building is occupied, said Brog, who said he plans to keep the building offices instead of pursuing Lingerfelt's plan to convert 22 floors of the building into 253 apartments.“

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/real-estate/2025/04/24/chase-tower-downtown-bought-by-los-angeles-investor-andrew-brog/83246869007/

Eh I would rather see some conversion with office, similar to Preston centre. Unless they can convert into class A that can compete with the brand new office being built, I think they will struggle to rent it. 

 

Window installation at Elevate 340 

 

Snatched a few as I passed by on Grant 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, CbusOrBust said:

 

Window installation at Elevate 340 

 

Snatched a few as I passed by on Grant 

 

 

 

They really aren't messing around! At this rate it will be ready for residents this summer. 

Edited May 8May 8 by sono4315

Downtown Microliving apartment building hits market as developer shifts focus

Nearly 10 years after Connect Real Estate Founder Brad DeHays transformed the five-story brick building at 260 S. 4th St. into Microliving, a site of compact studio apartments, the developer is looking to sell the property.

DeHays decided to list the building for sale in order to focus resources on his expanding portfolio, most notably his modular apartment projects, Bob Lamb, Connect Real Estate's senior vice president of development, told Columbus Business First.

"Instead of the focus on taking great older buildings and returning them to active commercial use, (Connect Real Estate is) looking at infill opportunities and greenfield opportunities to bring larger apartment complexes," Lamb said.

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/05/07/microliving-brad-dehays-sale.html

Approaching Elevate 340

From Fulton

Woda Cooper signage and fencing now up around the old YMCA building perimeter on Long and Front. Still don’t think we’ve seen any solid plans for the redevelopment yet tho, have we?

10 minutes ago, amped91 said:

Woda Cooper signage and fencing now up around the old YMCA building perimeter on Long and Front. Still don’t think we’ve seen any solid plans for the redevelopment yet tho, have we?

I haven't seen any for it. I would guess the outside will just get new windows without any other changes. I know they are doing the starling middle school and I don’t remember ever seeing interior updates for that either. Are they exempt from having to give details?? Ha

On 5/10/2025 at 9:54 PM, amped91 said:

Woda Cooper signage and fencing now up around the old YMCA building perimeter on Long and Front. Still don’t think we’ve seen any solid plans for the redevelopment yet tho, have we?

Sounds like we’re looking at “121 affordable housing units consisting of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The target AMI is at or below 30% AMI up to 80% AMI. Proposed exterior alterations include as needed, like-for-like repairs/replacement of historic building materials, replacing existing windows, removing fire escapes and adding a stair tower.”

Plans to convert former YMCA to residences up for review by Downtown Commission

Plans to convert the former downtown YMCA building at the northeast corner of North Front and West Long streets into residences have been submitted to the Downtown Commission for review.

The Lofts at 40 Long project would turn the vacant building at 40 W. Long St. into 121 housing units across eight floors.

The apartments would range in size from studios to one, two and three bedrooms offered at affordable monthly rents. Rents are targeted for between 30% and 80% of the area median income.

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/05/14/plans-convert-former-ymca-site-residences.html

Happy to have the residential units, but it's a shame the Y couldn't stay on as a lower level tenant and have kept operating the gym/fitness center component. When they announced their closure in 2019 they were hopeful about announcing a new downtown location "soon," that clearly never panned out

This will hopefully be a great start to redoing park st!

Astra Rooftop to replace Lumin Sky Bar in July

A new restaurant-bar concept will replace Lumin Sky Bar over the summer.

Lumin Sky Bar and Kitchen, a rooftop restaurant on the top floor of the AC Hotel Columbus Downtown, 517 Park St., will soon become Astra Rooftop, according to a May 14 announcement.

The Mediterranean- and bohemian-style rooftop restaurant and bar will look over Goodale Park and offer modern American cuisine with European and Spanish influences.

Additional concepts coming to the hotel's first floor, according to One Hospitality, include:

• Spruce Street Sporting: A high-end, sports-centric lounge and bar for sporting event gatherings near the Arena District neighborhood

• Sorella: A restaurant concept from Forno Kitchen + Bar

• Sorella Parlor: Connected to Sorella’s main dining area will be Sorella Parlor, a high-end gaming and entertainment experience including games and activities like darts, axe throwing, shuffleboard, golf simulators, Pop-A-Shot and more.

• Sorella Patio: An expansive patio space with a two-story bar, cabanas, games, fire pits and a pop-up kitchen

Glad they're finally activating the ground floor spaces. Wish we could get something other than bars along here though

12 minutes ago, NW24HX said:

Glad they're finally activating the ground floor spaces. Wish we could get something other than bars along here though

The sorella parlor sounds like it will be a game spot, so not exactly a bar. I do think the area needs a little more retail focus.

With so many families coming into that area, little shops would be a cool addition. Hopefully once the tower is done and gets rented, we see a variety of commercial space pop up.

Elevate 340 heading north into downtown.

I wasn't sure if this project at 150 E. Gay had its own thread but renderings and pricing are up! Studios start at $1,334 and go up to $3,689 for the largest two bedroom 2.5 bath.

26 minutes ago, sono4315 said:

I wasn't sure if this project at 150 E. Gay had its own thread but renderings and pricing are up! Studios start at $1,334 and go up to $3,689 for the largest two bedroom 2.5 bath.

What is the name of the development?

28 minutes ago, Scott Krajeski said:

What is the name of the development?

It’s the continental building conversion. The new name is Continental Tower Apartments I believe.

39 minutes ago, Scott Krajeski said:

What is the name of the development?

Here's a picture of the building. It's located at 4th and Gay Street.

That pool will have a great view, but the wind has got to be crazy up there.

2 hours ago, sono4315 said:

I wasn't sure if this project at 150 E. Gay had its own thread but renderings and pricing are up! Studios start at $1,334 and go up to $3,689 for the largest two bedroom 2.5 bath.

The renderings threw me since they have the actual building out the window in some of these interior mockups, lol. The units and shared spaces do look great, though. The big square windows are nice. Agreed that the rooftop deck looks awesome but very exposed to the elements. Hoping these units sell well.

Plan to Renovate Downtown YMCA Building Approved

A plan to renovate the former Downtown YMCA building will be moving forward after receiving design approval from the Downtown Commission today.

Representatives of the developer, Woda Cooper Companies, explained to the board that they will be seeking historic tax credits for the project and that all of the preservation requirements of that program will be followed. That means that the building’s decorative masonry work will be cleaned and its windows replaced, but the overall appearance will not change much. A new enclosed stairwell will be added to the rear of the building to provide a safer means of exit for residents than the outdoor fire escapes that are there now.

The renovation, which could take as long as two years to complete, will turn the building into a 121-unit affordable housing complex. Rents in the apartments will be affordable to tenants earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income (AMI).

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/plan-to-renovate-downtown-ymca-building-approved-bw1/

On 5/19/2025 at 7:42 AM, sono4315 said:

I wasn't sure if this project at 150 E. Gay had its own thread but renderings and pricing are up! Studios start at $1,334 and go up to $3,689 for the largest two bedroom 2.5 bath.

Where were you able to find the pricing? I’ve been looking.

$1140 range for a studio up to over 3k for a 2 bedroom. You can go to apartments.com and type in 150. E Gay Street.

Edited May 21May 21 by sono4315

Downtown Commission approves plans to convert former YMCA building into housing

Plans to convert the former YMCA building into housing were approved by the Downtown Commission on Tuesday.

Developer Woda Cooper submitted a proposal to convert the vacant building at 40 W. Long St. into the Lofts at 40 Long – 121 units across eight floors at the site on the northeast corner of Front and Long streets.

One commission member called the proposal a "brilliant save to a very significant building." Another called the submitted designs "great."

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/05/21/plans-redevelop-former-ymca-site-approved.html

Downtown Special Improvement Districts to end operations, turn over services to Downtown Columbus Inc.

A months-long back-and-forth over who will oversee downtown safety and cleanliness efforts is coming to a conclusion.

Marc Conte, executive director of the Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts, told Columbus Business First that the organizations will "cease operations" by the end of the year, an outcome he blamed on "interference in the renewal petition process."

The SIDs have provided cleaning, safety services and homeless outreach engagement for property owners downtown since 2001.

But last year, the city approached Conte with a proposal to merge the SIDs into Downtown Columbus Inc. in order to streamline services at its new Safer Downtown Command Center, a 24-hour security operation that monitors footage from multiple cameras across the central city.

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/05/29/special-improvement-districts-operations-dci.html

Interesting update in this article on the Continental Center conversion:

"A grocer that will occupy 11,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space in the 26-story tower is expected to be announced soon."

"The retail space on the ground floor will be a grocer with bar and dining area."

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/05/30/continental-center-tower-gay-street-apartments.html

3 minutes ago, NW24HX said:

Interesting update in this article on the Continental Center conversion:

"A grocer that will occupy 11,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space in the 26-story tower is expected to be announced soon."

"The retail space on the ground floor will be a grocer with bar and dining area."

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/05/30/continental-center-tower-gay-street-apartments.html

A few blocks from charmys, wonder if it will be a national brand.

Continental Centre office-to-apartment conversion nears completion, first residents arriving in June

Another downtown office to apartment conversion is wrapping work as the Continental Centre will welcome its first residents in June.

A grocer that will occupy 11,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space in the 26-story tower is expected to be announced soon.

Washington, D.C.-based developer Bernstein Cos purchased the former office building at 150 E. Gay St. for $12 million in a 2021 auction. The firm has spent the past four years converting the space into 409 units, now called the Continental Tower Apartments.

"We bought this building with the intention of converting to residential. We had no dreams about keeping it entirely office," Phil Aftuck, managing director of investments at Bernstein Cos., told Columbus Business First.

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/05/30/continental-center-tower-gay-street-apartments.html

An 11k square foot grocer is only about a third the size of what is planned for the peninsula right? I wonder if it will be something like a Walgreens, which would still be a really good addition for this area.

22 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

An 11k square foot grocer is only about a third the size of what is planned for the peninsula right? I wonder if it will be something like a Walgreens, which would still be a really good addition for this area.

Yeah, the peninsula grocer is 38,000 so this would probably be more of a convenient store set up, which wouldn’t be bad. The DGX downtown is 6,200 sqft for reference.

Someone on reddit was pretty confident the peninsula grocer will be Littleton’s, which wouldn’t make sense, since their current location is only 15,000 sqft.